Economics
Surging Economy Empowers Obama to Confront Hostile Congress
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A roaring U.S. economy is strengthening President Barack Obama as he confronts a new Congress under Republican control.
A report today that the gross domestic product grew at a 5 percent annual rate from July through September, its best performance in a decade, sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average past 18,000 for the first time. Consumers gained from stronger employment, higher pay and lower gasoline prices -- countering criticism that Obama hasn’t done enough for middle-income Americans.